Schumacher’s enemy in his own team: The duel with the teammate is becoming more and more toxic

Last weekend there were two crashes between the opponents. In qualifying on Saturday in Zandvoort, Mick Schumacher overtook team-mate Nikita Masepin while driving slowly, just before the fast lap started. He then complained heavily to the team because Schumacher hadn’t kept to the agreement: “I don’t like it when someone is bold, although it’s only about 19th place. That shows their true colors, and I won’t tolerate that . ” Schumacher countered coolly: “I don’t quite know what he’s talking about”. He had got the team’s permission beforehand, which was also true. Small side effect of the squabbling: Schumacher slowed Sebastian Vettel when he drove next to Masepin and ruined the four-time world champion’s fast lap. Vettel did not get beyond Q1 in the qualification, Schumacher apologized afterwards.

In the race, the brawlers clashed again, but this time the matter was a little more dangerous because it happened at 300 km / h. Schumacher wanted to overtake his team-mate again, but at the last moment he changed lanes and blocked the way. The problem: The maneuver took place at the entrance to the box office, a very dangerous place because there is a bollard there. Incidentally, Masepin damaged the German’s front wing with the rude action. Schumacher had to have it replaced and after the pit stop fell back to last place. It was “a tough maneuver”, said Masepin afterwards, but put it into perspective: “It should always be like this”. In the end, the Russian had to retire due to hydraulic damage while Schumacher drove to the end of the race.

Team boss Steiner will have to intervene robustly

As usual in Formula 1, they wanted to clarify internally, announced Haas team boss Günther Steiner afterwards. This seems necessary because it is in the nature of things that such conflicts do not resolve themselves. The opposite is true: they tend to escalate. Steiner is used to hard arguments between his drivers. Former Haas drivers Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen even dismantled each other’s cars. Steiner often had to intervene with a swollen neck vein. The screams are one of the highlights in the Netflix documentary “Drive to Survive”.

It is quite possible that the South Tyrolean character will have to raise his voice again to get the ongoing conflict between Masepin and Schumacher under control. Since the two 22-year-olds were hired as rookies by Hass, they have been persevering. On the one hand, this is due to the natural competition. The following applies to every Formula 1 driver: First you have to beat your teammate. The series of internal team duels is legendary. On the other hand, it is because the two are sitting in the slowest car in the field. They can’t even compete with the Alfa Romeos or Williams, the other two bottom lights. If they fight against each other, it’s about 19th and 20th place. They only have each other, that increases the rivalry.

Zandvoort is the next level of escalation

The incidents in Zandvoort have been the lowest point so far. The young Russian had only been similarly tough in the Baku race so far. There he had also tried to prevent Schumacher from overtaking by suddenly changing lanes, also at 300 km / h. Masepin apologized at the time for the blatant action (it was also unsuccessful).

What fuels the poisonous rivalry is the clear distribution of roles. As the son of one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers of all time, Mick Schumacher started his first year with great praise. As a Formula 2 world champion, he proved that he has the necessary talent. He also knows how to behave and what to say (and what not). His public appearances are professional, convincing and exude a certain friendliness. Above all, he describes his father as a hero of his childhood and a great role model. No trace of the pressure of an over-father. He does not reveal the smallest detail about his state of health. His role is taken from him, and he is sponsored by Ferrari.

Quite different to Masepin, who takes on the role of the bad boy in this duel. The son of a Russian oligarch first caught the public eye after a video went public of Masepin grabbing an acquaintance’s chest. The young Russian (most recently fifth in Formula 2) owes the jump to Formula 1 primarily to his father’s money – a classic pay driver who apparently lacks talent. Not only Ralf Schumacher, Mick’s uncle, thinks the Russians are simply overwhelmed. Masepin was often noticed by clumsy maneuvers and hindered other drivers. And he has so far been hopelessly inferior to Schumacher. In the races the balance is 10: 2 for the German (one failure), in the qualifying it is 11: 2.

So you get the impression that Masepin is defending himself against internal team competition with the means available to him. You should soon find a solution to the conflict in Team Haas, otherwise it can be expensive.

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